AAD 2018: Milkor presents latest production of UAS including the MA 80

At AAD 2018, International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition, the South African Defense Company MILKOR presents its full range of new UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems) including the MA 80 especially design to perform surveillance missions.

The new UAS Unmanned Aerial System MA 80 manufactured by MILKOR at AAD 2018, International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition in South Africa. September 2018. (Picture source Army Recognition)

The Milkor Surveillance UAS (Unmanned Aerial System) is a new breed of powerful, long endurance, portable aerial surveillance systems. The UAS is a turnkey product incorporating a variable payload capacity with maximum efficiency for extra long endurance missions.

The UAS is equipped to carry the world leaders in optical imagery equipment providing real-time high definition and infrared video data acquisition transmitted to remote receivers, This coupled with Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) makes the platform a complete all weather solution.

The flight control system provides for fully autonomous missions including autonomous take-off and landing capabilities. A dedicated payload bay is also provided to installed customer specific payloads, intelligence payloads and equipment.

The UAS is equipped with dual redundant Line of Sight Communications (LOSCom) equipment that maintains contact with the control unit up to 250km. The communications systems is equipped to manage the passing of control to alternate ground control units with zero link downtime.

The Ground Control Station is the command, control and payload interface between the ground mission control crew and the UAS. The Ground Control Station is portable and fully integrated to perform mission planning and simulation, UAS control and monitoring, Communications control and Payload Control.

The surveillance and reconnaissance payload capacity of the MILKOR MA 80 is 15 kg and the UAS can carry electro-optical and infrared cameras. It has a wing span of 6 m and a maximum take-off weight is 80 kg.

The MILKOR MA 80 is powered by an internal combustion engine, driving a two-blade propeller mounted at the rear of the fuselage. The drone can transmit telemetry data to a range of maximum 250 km from the launch station and endure for approximately 24 hours. Its cruising and maximum speeds are 120 km/h and 160 km/h respectively.